I am back today with another installment of my Medicine Cabinet Mixed Media series. Today I am working again with a nail scrub brush. I have already shared how it looked to use the brush to apply paint, today I want to show you how it looks to use it to spread paint.

Begin by apply paint on a surface. I am using a #8 manila Ranger Ink tag but you can use this technique on any type of surface that can be painted on. Apply the paint in wet juicy swipes from top to bottom. (Color shown- Tumbled Glass.)

Pounce the brush randomly over the surface, using the bristles to spread the paint.

Be sure that you pounce and not brush. If you brush, you will end up with lines in the paint, similar to the nail brush and paint background I shared on Thursday.

Continue randomly pouncing until all the paint is spread out and there are no lines.

The background have a textured look that looks like a fine stucco wall finish.

Dry the paint with a heat tool.

To have a strong inked edge, you need to sand the edges of the tag with a sanding grip since paint will resist Distress Ink.

Blend Distress Ink over the tag, including the edges, using an ink blending tool (color shown- Hickory Smoke). I often leave an area in the center of the tag that is free of ink so that it creates a highlight.

Buff over the tag with a dry cloth to remove the ink from on top of the paint.

The remaining ink will be in the recessed areas with less paint. The ink will look like it is behind the paint.

A second application of ink can be applied to deepen the color. On the second application, apply the ink randomly so that it only re-inks some of the areas of the tag. Blend the ink onto the tag with a heavier hand so that the application of ink is much heavier than the first.

Buff over the tag again with a dry cloth to remove the paint from the top of the paint.

The effect will look different depending on the color you use for contrast. For a bolder look, I added an addition application of ink in a darker color. (Color shown- Gathered Twigs.) Always buff the ink off of the paint with a dry cloth.

I am a big fan of the Spritz & Flick technique. It works especially well on painted surfaces. To create spots in the ink, mist water into your hand. Flick the water onto your surface. The more water you use, the more dramatic the effect.

Blot the water droplets with a dry cloth. Dry the tag with a heat tool.

I love the way the ink accents and defines the textures created in the paint.

The pouncing of the nail brush creates a sandy like texture and adds striations in the paint.

(sweet sigh) I just never get tired of the magic of water on Distress Ink.

I think a great background is one that is interesting but not so bold that they distract from the embellishments and focus of the tag. I think this background fits that bill. The closer you look, the more detail in it you see. I also love the simplicity of using one main color with one or two neutrals. You get color variation that is again subtle and not distracting.

PS. I will be back Tuesday with another installment of this series. If you have missed any of the techniques up to this point, you can find them all in the Basics 101 gallery.

Thank you for sharing this lovely technique. I really love that background you created. As you said it does’nt take away focus from your stamping, embellishment etc.
Thanks a lot.
Hugs from Monica… Spain